Cardiac monitoring is focused on the collection and interpretation of a patient’s heart rhythm. Different technologies have been developed to accomplish this goal, each with different features and methods for collecting the data. These methods include:
Holter
A Holter monitor is a short-term, continuous monitoring device that tracks the heart rhythm of a patient with small electrodes that attach to the skin. The devices are typically worn for 24–48 hours and then returned for download and analysis.
Event
Event monitors offer longer term monitoring in which the patient can trigger a recording if they are feeling symptomatic. Some event monitors can auto trigger based on internal algorithms for tachycardia, bradycardia, pause, or atrial fibrillation.
Mobile Cardiac Telemetry
Mobile Cardiac Telemetry, or MCT, allows for longer term monitoring with the ability for patient or auto-triggered events based on algorithms. Generally speaking, MCT devices “sample” or “trend” ECG samples periodically throughout the day.
TCAT3
The TCAT3 is a TELErhythmics Cardiac Ambulatory Telemetry device, which is designed for longer term monitoring. It collects every heartbeat in order to detect elusive arrhythmias. The patient can trigger recordings or the device can auto trigger based on internal algorithms for tachycardia, bradycardia, pause, or atrial fibrillation. Data is transmitted wirelessly for near real-time analysis.
Comparing Cardiac Monitoring Options
There are countless devices that allow physicians to offer cardiac monitoring services. To help you understand the differences between the various methods, we’ve compared the technologies in the chart below.